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Properties of Cemented Paste Backfill

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Paste Tailings Management

Abstract

Knowledge on the properties of cemented paste backfill (CPB) material is essential for the design of cost-effective, safe and durable cemented backfill structures. The primary properties and characteristics of CPB are categorised by their physical, mechanical, hydraulic, thermal, chemical and microstructural aspects. Each property can be affected by different parameters that are mainly classified as (1) internal factors, which include all the intrinsic and multi-physics properties, such as parameters related to the main components of CPB (e.g. binder, tailings and water) and their changes with curing time. They also include other processes, such as self-desiccation, cement reaction and heat generated by binder hydration, and (2) external factors or processes, which include all phenomena that take place in relation to environmental aspects. For example, the effects of thermal loads (e.g. temperature of the rock mass, self-heating of the rocks) on the strength development of CPB, or the effects of the pressure of the self-weight of backfill and the filling rate on its consolidation behaviour, are external factors. These processes and their interactions affect the behaviour and performance of CPB. Thus, an understanding of the properties of CPB and the factors that affect them is critical for the safe and cost-effective design of CPB structures. In this chapter, a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on the physical, thermal (T), hydraulic (H), mechanical (M), microstructural and chemical properties (C) of CPB as well as the factors that affect them and their interactions is provided. However, the properties for assessing the transportability of CPB (e.g. yield stress, viscosity) are not addressed in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    A. Ghirian & M. Fall

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  1. A. Ghirian
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  2. M. Fall
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Correspondence to M. Fall .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cayeli Bakir Isletmeleri A.S., Rize, Turkey

    Erol Yilmaz

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Mamadou Fall

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Ghirian, A., Fall, M. (2017). Properties of Cemented Paste Backfill. In: Yilmaz, E., Fall, M. (eds) Paste Tailings Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39682-8_4

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